The structure of R&D collaboration networks in the European Framework Programmes

*) corresponding author This version: 17.08.2006 Using a large and novel data source, we study the structure of R&D collaboration networks in the first five EU Framework Programmes (FPs). The networks display properties typical for complex networks, including scale-free degree distributions and the small-world property. Structural features are common across FPs, indicating similar network formation mechanisms despite changes in governance rules. Several findings point towards the existence of a stable core of interlinked actors since the early FPs with integration increasing over time. This core consists mainly of universities and research organisations. We observe assortative mixing by degree of projects, but not by degree of organisations. Unexpectedly, we find only weak asso-ciation between central projects and project size, suggesting that different types of projects attract different groups of actors. In particular, large projects appear to have included few of the pivotal actors in the networks studied. Central projects only partially mirror funding pri-orities, indicating field-specific differences in network structures. The paper concludes with an agenda for future research

Correlations in Bipartite Collaboration Networks

Collaboration networks are studied as an example of growing bipartite networks. These have been previously observed to have structure such as positive correlations between nearest-neighbour degrees. However, a detailed understanding of the origin of this phenomenon and the growth dynamics is lacking. Both of these are analyzed empirically and simulated using various models. A new one is presented, incorporating empirically necessary ingredients such as bipartiteness and sublinear preferential attachment. This, and a recently proposed model of team assembly both agree roughly with some empirical observations and fail in several others.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figures, 2 table, submitted to JSTAT; manuscript reorganized, figures and a table adde

Distinct spatial characteristics of industrial and public research collaborations: Evidence from the 5th EU Framework Programme

This study compares the spatial characteristics of industrial R&D networks to those of public research R&D networks (i.e. universities and research organisations). The objective is to measure the impact of geographical separation effects on the constitution of cross-region R&D collaborations for both types of collaboration. We use data on joint research projects funded by the 5th European Framework Programme (FP) to proxy cross-region collaborative activities. The study area is composed of 255 NUTS-2 regions that cover the EU-25 member states (excluding Malta and Cyprus) as well as Norway and Switzerland. We adopt spatial interaction models to analyse how the variation of cross-region industry and public research networks is affected by geography. The results of the spatial analysis provide evidence that geographical factors significantly affect patterns of industrial R&D collaboration, while in the public research sector effects of geography are much smaller. However, the results show that technological distance is the most important factor for both industry and public research cooperative activities.Comment: 28 page

The stringency of environmental regulation and the 'Porter hypothesis'

Most empirical evidence indicates that the costs of environmental regulation represent a minor fraction of total production costs. This finding is at odds with the assumption of stringent environmental regulation of both proponents and opponents of the ‘porter hypothesis’. A possible explanation may be provided by examining the negotiation of environmental regulation in a ‘political market’. In this market, stakeholder attempt to ensure their preferred level of stringency through influencing political decision makers. In most cases, the equilibrium stringency will require pollution abatement levels that can be met with best available technology (bat) or predictable advances over bat. Accordingly, net benefits from environmental regulation as claimed by a’ strong version’ of the ‘porter hypothesis’ are unlikely to emerge. On the other hand, competitiveness is equally unlikely to suffer. However, compliance may impose disproportionate costs on technological laggards. The argument is illustrated with evidence from a study on the techno-economic consequences of austrian voc emission standards.keywordsenvironmental regulationpollution abatementenvironmental investmentdominant designporter hypothesisthese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves